26 Jun 2019

Botswana Geo-Science Institute (BGI) has engaged experts from South Africa to conduct detailed investigations on the ongoing earth tremors at Selebi Phikwe.

The team, which comprises a local based Aqualogic and South African based Open House Management Solution (OHMS) will carry out an investigation on the causes, sources of the tremor as well as to determine their magnitudes and frequency.

OHMS is a South African based Geotechnical and Seismological Service Provider which has professional consultants with specialised experience in the field of Rock Engineering, Numerical Modelling, Mine Seismology and Geology.

Marketing and Communications manager, Mr James Molosankwe informed residents during a kgotla meeting addressed by Selebi Phikwe East MP, Mr Nonofo Molefhi at Botshabelo in Selebi Phikwe on Tuesday that the team of experts had arrived in town and would conduct an investigation for a period of two months.

He said currently, he could not confirm whether Selebi Phikwe was safe or not, adding that they would inform the public about the findings once the investigations had been completed.

BGI manager-Applied Geoscience, Mr Koketso Botepe added that BGI conducted investigations in January, where they went to the mine and surveyed the town, but this time they had engaged experts to conduct an intensive research on the tremors.

Tremors can be of two forms, either tectonic that is natural or hypogenic that is caused by human activities, he added.

He urged residents to cooperate well with the team.

Residents of Selebi Phikwe have been living in fear as the tremors have been ongoing since January this year.

They complained that the BCL Mine had long closed in 2016 and as such no production was taking place causing some panic.

Meanwhile, a news release from the Ministry of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security has said the vibrations in Selebi Phikwe are not life threatening, hence should not cause panic.

The release states that the vibrations are small and are believed to be originating from over 1 000 metres underground, which ordinarily will not pose any hazard to people and animals on the surface.

The ministry through BGI has engaged experts to conduct detailed investigations commencing early July, states the release

Furthermore, it says the experts have already identified sites and preparations for the surface stations have been completed. This is expected to be followed by installation of the underground stations. ENDS